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Make a difference with a degree from GW’s Trachtenberg School of Public Policy & Public Administration

Posted on September 25th, 2014

Do you believe that one person can make a difference from within a system? Do you want to develop your understanding of management, leadership, evaluation, administration, statistics and policy while being in the heart of Washington, D.C. – the nucleus of political power in the USA? Do you want to be an agent for change in the public, private or nonprofit sector? Then the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration at the George Washington University is waiting for you!

The Trachtenberg School offers a Master of Public Administration (MPA), Master of Public Policy (MPP), PhD in Public Policy and Administration, and Graduate Certificates in both Nonprofit Management and Budget and Public Finance. Whether your interests are in the nonprofit, government, or business sectors, the Trachtenberg School will prepare you for a career in federal, state, and local governments; nonprofits; consulting firms; international organizations; university teaching and research; and think tanks.

If you believe that graduate school is one step in your journey to making a difference, then this might be the place for you. Here, you’ll join a community of service-minded students, faculty, and alumni who believe that informed and engaged citizens can bring positive change to all sectors of society.

At Trachtenberg, you’ll have the flexibility to earn your degree among part-time and full-time students and choose from a multi-disciplinary cross-section of classes. Most classes take place in the late afternoons and evenings to allow part-time and full-time students to learn together. Classes are held in person on GW’s Foggy Bottom campus to encourage you to learn from the faculty and each other.

The master’s programs in public administration (MPA) and public policy (MPP) integrate theory and practice in scholarship, teaching, and service and embrace multiple perspectives for advancing critical analysis and practical knowledge of public policy and public administration. The Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration offers a rigorous multi-disciplinary curriculum that prepares students for careers in university teaching and research, research institutions, federal, state, and local governments, and international organizations.

Both the MPA and MPP are strong, valuable, recognized degrees. At GW, the basic structures (and amount of coursework) are virtually identical between the two degrees. However, the degrees do have distinctions in terms of the course emphases and recommended fields of concentration. The Trachtenberg School is one of only two universities in the nation to offer both the MPA and MPP degrees with accreditation from NASPAA, the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration.

The Master of Public Administration degree is the recognized professional degree in public administration, public management, and public service. It is designed principally, but not exclusively, for those who are pursuing careers in public service. Graduates are employed in government agencies at all levels, national associations, public interest groups, research and consulting firms, and in the private sector.

The MPA program provides an opportunity to study management and policy issues in an intergovernmental and intersectional context. The program focuses on developing critical intellectual capacities, sound analytical skills, and a sensitivity to the ethical and value concerns that are central to the traditions of the field of public administration.

The Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree provides students with education and training that prepares them for opportunities in professional positions in a wide variety of organizations. Students not only learn the basic analytical and methodological tools to engage in policy analysis; they also develop an understanding of the political processes through which policy is made and the social, economic and historical context in which problems arise and are addressed. Each student chooses a policy field that serves as an area in which he/she can apply these skills and gain substantive knowledge. However, the program is generalist rather than highly specialized; it provides students with the ability to quickly and successfully come to grips with policy problems across a wide range of issues.

For additional information regarding the programs and degrees that the Trachtenberg School offers including information on admissions requirements and financing your education, please visit our website at http://tspppa.gwu.edu/. If you’re ready to advance your skills and make a difference, then the Trachtenberg School is waiting for you!